Table of Contents
By Joe Rich
How to Break in your Nitro RC Car Engine
Engine break in is a crucial step for any nitro RC car. The process should be performed before the first time you use your engine and on every new engine after that. There are many reasons why you should always break in an engine, but here are just a few:
The benefits of breaking in an engine include increased power, smoother idle, and less wear on parts because they’ll last longer. You’ll also save gas or fuel because it will be more efficient if the cylinder walls have been properly lubricated with oil beforehand.
If you haven’t broken in your nitro RC car’s engine yet don’t worry! Today I’m going to show you how to do it by step-by-step instructions.
When I was breaking in my new nitro engine I was thinking that for a beginner the process could seem a little daunting.
Breaking in Nitro RC car engine is a very common process.
Every new nitro RC car engine is required to undergo the break in.
Its sole purpose in the process is to make sure that you achieve maximum performance and ensure the durability of the different engine parts.
All have to do is follow the right procedure, and at the end of the day you will end up with a nitro engine that performs reliably without constantly breaking down.
The break in process will only take you a couple of hours and a few tanks of nitro fuel to get it completely done.
Patience is a key factor and in fact is mandatory during this process.
We have a article about the best ready to run nitro cars you can buy today click here to read.
Necessary Equipment
Before you start, ensure you have the following equipment:
A glow plug igniter.
Nitro fuel recommended for your specific model.
A small flat-head screwdriver for adjusting carburettor settings.
A clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off excess fuel.
Thermometer for checking engine temperature.
We have a article about nitro car accessories click here to read
- Just Use Standard AA Batteries (Batteries Not Included)
- Essential Nitro Engine Starter Tools
- Compatible with Nitro Power RC Car Plane Helicopter Boat And so on
- Requires:1xStandard AA Batteries
- Produced By HobbyPark ,Well made and durable,100% New
- ACCURATE – Our laser thermometer gun has an emissivity range of 0.1 to 1.0 for precise readings across different surfaces and conditions. For best results, the reader should be 14″ away from the object.
- VERSATILE – Use this handy laser temperature gun at home and in industrial settings. Check the heat of your oven or griddle, complete HVAC projects, measure the temp of any vehicle’s engine, and more.
- EASY TO USE – Simply scan the surface of your object, hold down the trigger of the IR thermometer gun, and release to get live temperature readings anywhere between -58ºF and 1112ºF (-50ºC and 600ºC).
- BRIGHT DISPLAY – Each infrared temperature gun has a large, backlit LCD screen, so you can easily read temperatures in the dark. With 2 AAA batteries included, powering up the thermal gun is a cinch.
- NOT FOR HUMANS – This temp gun thermometer is NOT suitable for human/internal body temperature use. It is designed for repairs around the home, cooking, HVAC and automotive use, and other DIY jobs.
We have a article about how long Nitro engines last click here to read.
What Critical checks to make before breaking in a Nitro engine
Before performing any RC engine break in, there are a few checks you need to
perform.
This is good practise as you do not want to end up getting stuck later in the process.
First, you will
need to read and understand the manual to know the settings of nitro engine you
are using. This will also tell you where to locate the screws of your carburettor.
To prepare your RC nitro for breaking, you will have to connect the glow plug
to the top of the cylinder head but make sure you don’t make it too tight.
Once done, you will need to fill your cars fuel tank.
The next step is very important switch on the transmitter and making sure that the brake, throttle, and steering servos are responsive.
As soon as you are certain everything is working fine, go ahead and set the carburettor needle to factory position.
You can confirm with the user manual to make sure that you have the right configuration.
What is the the break in procedure
The number of tanks of fuel you use can vary I always use 8 tanks this is for my own peace of mind that the engine has been broken in and will not give any issues in the future.
If you want you use less I would recommend no less than 5 tanks this would be the minimum.
What to do on the first tank
Make sure the engine fuel is at the carburettor, connect the starter and start
the engine.
Run the engine at low speed, to be precise; you should not go beyond a quarter throttle.
Throughout the process, monitor the engine’s temperature.
It should be reading between 195F and 205F.
You should run your RC nitro car until the fuel is almost empty.
Make sure you do not run on an empty tank to prevent damaging the engine at this early stage.
Check to confirm that the piston head is at the bottom of the cylinder then leave your RC car to cool down.
This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. You can then proceed to the next tank.
- VP Racing Hobby Fuel 20% Nitro Fuel – 1 Quart
- Tools and Accessories : Nitrofuel
- Compatible with all RC vehicles that use 20% Nitro Fuel
- Item Package Dimension: 9.0″ L x 3.25″ W x 3.25″ H
What to do on the Second tank
Start the engine then let it idle for some seconds.
You should then run it at half throttle as you check the temperature just like you did the first tank.
Do this for 2 to 3 minutes.
By now, the temperature should be 195F to 205F.
If that’s not the case, you will have to configure it manually.
If it is too low, locate the speed needle and give it a clockwise turn of 1/16.
But if the temperature is above, you should give the high speed needle 1/16 turn in the anti-clockwise direction.
Run the engine until when the tank is about to be empty then confirm the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder.
Switch off the engine and give it time to cool down completely.
What to do on the third tank
On this tank, you RC nitro cars should be gaining momentum, and so you should
be able to give it a high throttle.
Lean the engine by giving the high speed needle a 1/16 turn clockwise.
Go ahead and start the engine and this time run it at 3/4 throttle.
Maintain the speed for 2 to 3 minutes, check the temperature to make sure that it ranges between 205F and 220F.
It should not be too low or too high.
Continue running it until when the fuel is about to be empty then stop it. Ensure the piston is at BCD then let it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
What to do on the 4th and 6th tank
Before you start the engine on your fourth tank all the way to the sixth tank, you
need to turn the high speed needle 1/8 clockwise.
Once this is done, start the RC nitro car and repeat all the steps you did in tank three.
The temperature should be maintained and so should the throttle.
This step four should be done until you reach the 6th tank of nitro.
What to do on tank 7
This is the stage where the break in process starts taking course.
Start the engine then run it at an average speed while ensuring the temperature is between 210F and 230F.
Once this is done, go to high speed until you see blue smoke coming out of the pipe.
You should rich the engine if you notice that there is no smoke and you should lean it if you notice that the speed cannot go high enough and yet there is smoke.
Once you are done stop the engine and let it cool down completely. For tank 8 repeat the above steps in seven.
- 【1:10 Large Scale Size Drift Car】1:10 Scale big size and full proportional super-fast Drift Car,extra large capacity leak proof fuel tank with the overflow pipe and spring load fill cover for quick re-filling, make you enjoy the toy car for a longer period of time.Independent suspension,6061/T6 solid anodized alum chassis, Oil filled shocks, Solid universal joint cup/high performance ball bearings complete.
- 【4-Wheel Drive RC Car】Realistic drift car body, Hard drift tires, Shaft drove 4 Wheel drive. The four wheels will give support to unexpected dropping and the unstable surface of the ground, make you enjoy the toy car for a longer period of time.
- 【65km/h Amazingly Fast】13.8g super-light-weight flywheel.The max speed is up to 65km/h.Pre-trimmed V-tread durable tires, which let you go both off-road and on-road environments.Extra large capacity leak proof fuel tank with the overflow pipe and spring load fill cover for quick re-filling.Fibreglass Disc brake system with user replaceable pads provides quick brake response.
- 【2.4Ghz Accurate System & 2 Different Speed Mode】With a range of up to 100m/338 ft and 2.4Ghz highly responsive steering and throttle, you can racer with your friends or kids at the same time.furthermore, the RC car has two speed transmission version,which made you enjoy the different speed.
- 【 Safer and Stronger】Pre-trimmed V-tread durable tires with oil-filled shock-absorbing springs and premium shock absorbers provide excellent shock protection. Parts are upgradeable and user-serviceable. If you are looking for an exciting and extra cool present, then you will love this racing car, allows you to easily win in a game with friends. We also offer 180 Days replacement parts for free.
What safety precautions to take while breaking in a RC nitro engine
While performing the break in, there are various safety precautions that you
should take.
Make sure that throughout the process you don’t run the engine on an empty tank.
This will end up ruining your engine.
You also avoid
touching the engine immediately after running, it tends to be too hot and
ensure you keep the nitro fuel away from the engine after running because it is
highly flammable.
It will take you a maximum of eight tanks of fuel for the engine to break in.
After you break the RC nitro car, make sure that you never run the engine with the radio off and never go extremely rich because this will put stress on your engine.
These procedures will ensure that your RC car gives you the best performance.
After the break in process is finished and every time you run your engine there will be some after running maintenance to be done.
- Nitro R/C Starter Kit 80142A
- NOTE: Nitro Starter Kit may not exactly match what is shown in image and may change w/o notice Fuel shown in bottle for display purposes only
- Tools and Accessories : 80142A
These include
. Remove the glow plug and put a few drops of after run oil into the cylinder, pull on the start cord a few times to make sure the oil is spread evenly.
. Drain the fuel tank.
. Drain any unused fuel from the engine, nitro fuel absorbs water and will cause the engine internals to rust so it is very important that this job is done.
. Clean the fuel filter make sure it free flowing.
. Remove and clean the air filter assembly, wash the element in warm soapy water leave to dry and then add a few drops of air filter oil.
. Clear any dirt and debris from engine.
. Make sure engine is completely cool before attempting any maintenance.
We have a article about how maintain you nitro engine click here to read.
Troubleshooting and Tips
If your engine is hard to start or keeps shutting down, make small adjustments to the carburettor’s high-speed needle.
If your engine overheats during the process, stop and allow it to cool down before restarting.
Avoid running your engine lean (too little fuel in the air-fuel mixture) during the break-in process. This could cause excessive heat and damage your engine.
Remember, patience is key. The break-in process might seem time-consuming, but it will significantly improve your engine’s performance and lifespan.
We have a article about how to store your nitro car over the winter click here to read.
Driving Manners During Break-in
During the break-in period, avoid aggressive driving. Focus on smooth and gradual acceleration, and don’t go full throttle. This process allows all the moving parts to settle in and ensures your engine runs smoothly for many races to come.
Breaking in your nitro engine may seem like an intimidating task, but with patience and careful attention, you’ll extend the life of your engine and improve the overall performance of your RC car. Happy racing!
